Maine rape suspect agrees to be tried as an adult

Portland teenager accused of rape gives up fight, agrees to be tried as an adult

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine teenager charged with rape who resisted efforts by prosecutors to be tried as an adult has given up his fight.

The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/UnrRXE ) reports that Mohammed Mukhtar withdrew his objection to the prosecution's motion to try him as an adult during a hearing Monday.

Mukhtar is charged with breaking into a 50-year-old woman's home in May and raping her. He denies the charge.

The case has bounced between adult and juvenile court because of confusion over Mukhtar's birth date.

Prosecutors say the Somali refugee was born Jan. 1, 1994, which made him 18 at the time of the alleged rape. His attorney says the birth date was assigned him by immigration officials and his real birth date is Oct. 25, 1994, which made him 17 at the time.